Game-trap



(No Model.)

TQALBXANDER.

GAME TRAP.

No. 371.727. V Patented Oct. 18,1887.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR:

N. PETERS, Pmwumn m nw, Washington, D. a

ilrvrrnn TATES Enron.

PATENT GAM E-TRAF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,727, dated October18, 1887.

Application filed June 8, 1887. Serial No. 240,639. (No model.)

J'oaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TONY ALEXANDER, of Bogue Ohitto, in the county ofLincoln and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and ImprovedGame-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved game-trap bywhich animals passing over the trap are caught around the bodyor neckWithout injuring their fur.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of variousparts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fullydescribed hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improvement inan open or setposition. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in a closed position.Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 4. is a plan view of myimprovementin an open or set position.

Myimproved game-trap Ais provided with a longitudinally extending bottompiece, B, on the top of which is placed the crosswiseextending plate 0,through which passes the bolt D, which also passes through the bottomplate, 13, and is, secured to the same by nut E. On the upper end of thebolt D are provided the ends of the prongs F F, which are straight neartheir pivoted ends, and then curved outward and upward and slightlysidewise, so that when the prongs F and F are closed they pass over eachother, as shown Figs. 2 and 3.

Over the bolt D passes one end of a spring, G, of U shape, said endresting on the crossplate 0. The other end of the spring G is providedwith an enlarged aperture passing freely over the bolt D and over theinner ends of the prongs Fand F when in aclosed position. The prongs Fand F are provided with the shoulders F on their under sides, whichlimit the opening of the spring G, the upper end of the latter resting,when the prongs F and F are in a closed position, against said shouldersF On the cross-plate C are hinged the arms H of the trigger H, providedwith the top crossplate, H, from which extend downward said arms H, andfrom which also extend laterally the catch-arms H each provided near itsextreme outer end, on the bottom, with a shoulder, H

The operation is as follows: When the game-trap is in a closed position,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the operator desires to set the trap, hepresses the upper part of the spring G downward until it meets its otherend. The prongs F and F are then swung sidewise into the position shownin Fig. 1, and then the operator swings the trigger H into a horizontalposition,so that the outer ends ofthe catch-arms H engage the top edgesofthe straight parts of the prongs Fand F,the shoulders H of saidcatch-arms limiting the inward motion of the catch-arms by strikingagainst the outer faces of the prongs F and F. As soon as the operatornow releases the pressure on the upper part of the spring G, the latterexerts its pressure against the inner ends of the prongs F and F,whereby the latter are prevented from closing on account of thecatch-arms H engaging the top edges of the said prongs F and F. l

It will be seen that as soon as an animal steps on the cross-plate H" ofthe trigger H the latter will swing downward, thus disengaging thecatch-arins H from the prongs F and F, whereby the latter are forcedshut by the pressure of the spring G,aud the animal is caught around itsbody or neck by said prongs F and F.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a game-trap, the combination, with the plates B O and the bolt D,secured to the said plates, of the shouldered prongs F F, pivoted attheir inner ends to the-bolt, the spring G, having one end secured tothe said plates and its free end apertured to receive the inner ends ofthe prongs, and the trigger H, having arms engaging the prongs,substanthe inner ends of the prongs, and the trigger tially as hereinshown and described. H, provided with the pivot -arms H, the 10 2. In agame-trap, the combination, with cross-plate H, and the catch-arms Hsubthe plates B C and the boltD, secured to the stantially as hereinshown and described.

5 plates, of the curved and pivoted prongs F v TONY ALEXANDER.

F, having the shoulders F the spring G, se- Witnesses: cured to the saidplates and provided with E. A. MOLAURIN,

an aperture in its free end for the passage of l D. L. EASTERLING.

